First Thoughts on the New Fighting Game: Punches, Kicks, and Combos

2 July 2025

Alright, folks. Let’s talk about something that gets the blood pumping, the adrenaline rushing, and the thumbs mashing — fighting games! And not just any fighting game. I’m talking about the latest brawler that’s stormed into the arena, fists flying and combos flaring. Yeah, you know the one.

Whether you’re a seasoned warrior of the arcade era or a noob who’s just discovered the joys of button mashing, the new fighting game we’re looking at today is a knockout. Quite literally. Let’s dive into our first thoughts on the newest contender in the digital fighting scene, where the punches are brutal, the kicks are flashy, and the combos? Oh man, let’s just say you’ll want to learn them all.

The First Round: Initial Impressions

Alright, let’s not beat around the bush — this game is smooth. From the moment the menu splashes onto the screen, you can feel the developers poured their heart (and a few black eyes) into making this game feel right.

Graphics That Hit You In The Face (In A Good Way)

The visuals? Chef’s kiss. They’re bold, vibrant, and loaded with personality. Each character model is super detailed, from the muscles twitching in anticipation before a round starts to the sweat flying off after a hard uppercut. You could practically smell the gym socks and adrenaline.

Even the stages — oh boy, the stages! We’re talking rooftop showdowns with neon backdrops, ancient temples with crumbling pillars, and gritty street alleys lit by flickering street lamps. It's cinematic. It’s stylish. It screams, “Grab a controller and throw down!”

Controls That Feel Like Butter... With A Side Of Pain

Now, if you've ever played a fighting game that felt like you needed to press ‘up, down, A, B, X, Y, twirl your thumbs, and whisper a secret code to perform a move — breathe easy. This game keeps it simple, but deep.

The controls are responsive and intuitive. Whether you’re pulling off a low kick to chip away at your opponent or going all-in with a 12-hit combo, it just feels natural. There’s something magical about a system that feels welcoming to newbies but has that juicy complexity that veterans can sink their teeth into.

Meet the Roster: Fighters You’ll Love (And Love to Hate)

What’s a fighting game without a colorful cast of characters, right? This game doesn’t just deliver — it overdelivers. We’ve got martial arts masters, cybernetic ninjas, street brawlers, mystic monks… you name it.

Fan Favorites and Fresh Faces

There’s a beautiful balance here. A few characters feel like homages to classic archetypes (shoutout to the fiery-haired, red-gloved dude who definitely gives “main character” energy), but there are some fresh designs that stand out.

Like the breakdancing grappler who uses rhythm-based moves. Or the stoic swordswoman who blends elegance and brutality. There’s even a talking animal character who’s surprisingly viable in ranked matches (don’t sleep on the squirrel, seriously).

Personal Playstyles Galore

No matter your style — rushdown, zoning, grappler — there’s someone for you. Each fighter plays differently, and the learning curve is just steep enough to be satisfying. You’ll find yourself gravitating toward certain characters not just based on how they look, but how they move, react, and dish out damage.

Combos, Counters, and Comebacks: The Game Mechanics

Now, let’s talk turkey. Or in this case, let's talk tech. Punches and kicks are cool, but what really makes a fighting game shine is the depth of its combat system. This new title has a few tricks up its sleeves (which are often torn off by the end of a match, metaphorically speaking).

Combo System That’s Easy to Learn, Hard to Master

The developers clearly aimed to strike a balance between accessible and competitive combat. You won’t need a PhD in finger gymnastics to pull off a flashy combo, but mastering tight timing and finding optimal strings? That’s where the real fun begins.

And the hits feel impactful. Every successful combo is rewarded with satisfying sound effects, a tiny screen shake, and an entirely-too-enthusiastic announcer shouting, “Unstoppable!” It’s pure serotonin.

Parry and Counter Mechanics That Reward Timing Over Spamming

One of the standout features? The revamped parry system. It’s not just about blocking anymore. Time it right, and you’ll open up your opponent for a devastating counter. Mess it up, and, well… enjoy getting juggled like a hacky sack.

It makes every encounter feel like a tense chess match — if chess had suplexes and fireballs.

Special Meter Mayhem

Like any good fighting game, there’s a super meter mechanic. Fill it up, and you can unleash devastating finishers or enhance your special moves. The animations here are wild — I’m talking anime-final-boss-level epic. One character literally drops a satellite on the battlefield. It’s absurd. It’s awesome. I want more.

Online Play: Lag-Free Fisticuffs (Mostly)

A fighting game lives and dies by its online functionality. After all, beating the CPU gets old real fast when you know you can flex your skills against real players.

Rollback Netcode to the Rescue

Let me say it loud: rollback netcode is the MVP here. Matches feel smooth, even when you're matched against someone across the globe. I had a few hiccups here and there (hello, teleporting opponents), but overall, it was an impressively stable experience.

Ranked, Casual, and Couch Co-op

There’s plenty of online modes, too. Want to grind ranks and climb the leaderboard? Go for it. Want to kick back with a few casual matches and not rage when you lose? That’s here too. And yes, thank the gaming gods — there’s also local multiplayer.

Because let’s face it, there’s something magical about sharing snacks, talking trash, and passing the controller to your buddy after a brutal beatdown.

Customization and Style Points

Alright, let’s switch gears a bit. It’s not just about who punches the hardest — it’s about who punches the hardest while looking good.

Outfits, Skins, and All the Drip

This game’s got style. You can unlock alternate costumes, color palettes, and even victory poses. Want your kickboxing champion in a tuxedo? Done. Feel like turning your high-flying ninja into a cowboy? Yeehaw, my friend.

Customization doesn’t affect gameplay (thankfully), but it adds that extra layer of personality. Plus, nothing feels better than winning a match with flair.

Emotes and Taunts

Oh, and the taunts? Hilarious. Some characters dance, others throw shade, and one even whips out a phone to take a selfie mid-match. Are they necessary? No. Do they make you love the game more? Absolutely.

What Needs Work? (Let’s Be Real)

It’s not all sunshine and perfectly-timed uppercuts. While the game launched with some serious heat, there are a few areas where it could tighten its gloves.

Balancing Tweaks

Some characters are definitely stronger than others right now. Like, “why-does-this-person-have-an-infinite-air-combo” levels of strong. But hey, that’s what patches are for. The devs are already listening to feedback, so fingers crossed we see some balance updates soon.

Training Mode Could Be Beefier

The training mode is decent, but it’s missing a few features we’ve come to expect. Like frame data display, combo challenges, and custom dummy behavior. If they beef this up, it’ll be a godsend for players trying to up their game.

Story Mode? Meh.

Look, I’m not saying we need a fighting game to have Oscar-worthy storytelling, but the single-player campaign feels a bit... hollow. Some cool cutscenes, sure, but it lacks emotional pull. It's more of a warm-up arena than a narrative experience.

Final Thoughts: Should You Dive In?

So, is the new fighting game worth your time? 100% yes.

It’s fast, fun, stylish, and packed with personality. Whether you're in it for the competitive grind or just want to button-mash your way through a fun Friday night, there’s something here for everyone. It’s got that special sauce — the kind that makes you say "one more match" at 2 AM.

Sure, it’s not perfect. But it’s off to a strong start, and with updates and community support, it could become a staple in the genre. You might even see it on the big stage at EVO one day.

So grab your controller, pick your main, and start practicing those combos. Because if your first thoughts are anything like mine, you're in for a wild ride.

Ready? FIGHT!